Dispensing apparatus



Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,819. w. T. HUNTER. DISPENSING APPARATUS.

man DEC-31,1921- zsnzns snm 1.

(1 Woman Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,819. I W. T. HUNTER.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

FILED DEC. 31. I921- Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 mm "two Patented Dec. 26, 1922 entree stares insane rarest 1 seems.

WILLIAM r. HUNTER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

nisrnnsrne APPARATUS.

Application filed December 31, 1921. Serial No. 526,339.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l VILLIAM. T. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State 5 of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings. I

general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with letter sheets and envelopes, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this character of a single delivery type and wherein the mechanism for delivering letter sheets is operable independently of'the mechanism for effecting a delivery ofthe envelopes, and'vice versa. Another object of the invention is to pro- .vide a novel and'improved device of this general character wherein the delivery mechanismfor either the letter sheets or for the envelopes includes a feed roller produced froma cellular material, preferably sponge rubber, which, as the roller engages the letter sheet or envelope to be delivered, creates avacuum whereby the delivery of a sheet Cor envelope'is materially facilitated.

Furthermore, it is an object of the in vention to provide a novel. and improved device of this general character wherein the ranged in a pile, together with a mechanism for singly delivering a sheet or envelope vfromthe pile and wherein means is pro vided for coaction with the pile to assure 40 such single delivery.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arran ement of the several parts of my improved tain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise moreconvenient and advantageous for use, as will'be hereinafter more fully set forth. 5O

hereinafter be definitely claimed.

' In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with. reference to the ac" e5 companyingdrawings, wherein:

This invention relates to certain irnprovements in dlspensing apparatus'and has relation more particularly to a device of tlllS sheets or envelopes to be delivered are an dispensing apparatus whereby oer-- The novel features of myinvention will rollers as herein embodied.

As disclosed inthe'accompanying drawings, C denotes a container or receptacle of desired configuration and dimensions and which isnprovided with-a hinged top T. The interior of the container'or' receptacle C is divided into the compartments A and Bby the partition P. The compartment A is of such dimensions to receive a pile X of letter sheets while-the compartmentB is of a size to receive apile Yofenvelopes.

A wall 1 of the container or receptacle .O'is provided thereacross with aslot 2 common to both of the compartments A and B and whereby each of said compartments is provided with a discharge opening. or slot. The bottom 3 of each ofthe compartments A and B is inclined upwardly toward the wall 1, the high point of the bottom of each of said compartments A and B terminating immediately adjacent the lower edge of the discharge opening or slot.

The compartment B which contains the pile Y of envelopes is of a length less than the length of the compartment A and the length of said compartment B is shortened by a transversely disposed partition P suitably positioned therein. This partition P provides the rear supplemental compartment 'B which houses the flexible member or chain M interposed between the partition P and the topT. Thechain or member M is for the-purpose of limiting the outward swinging movement of the top T. The compartment B is also adapted to contain various accessories for use in connection with my improved dispensing apparatus, such as additional. weights, reference, to which will be hereinafter made in detail.

The lower marginal portionof-the de livery slot of each of the compartments A. and B is defined by an inwardly and upwardly directed or curved flange 4: which serves as a guide or deflector to facilitate the desired passageof aletter sheet or envelope through such slot.

Disposed transversely of each of the compartments A and B at the upper portion thereof and in relatively close proximity to the wall 1 of the container or recept cle C is shaft 5, said shaft extendin exterior 1 of the container or receptacle and provided with an operating knob 6.

Loosely engaged with each of the shafts are tl e corresponding end portions of the elongated parallel members or side arms 7, said members or side arms being connected adjacent their opposite end portions by the cross member 8. Rotatably supported by said members or side arms 7 outwardly of the cross member 8 is a shaft 9 to which is suitably fixed a roller R. i

The shafts and 9 havefixed thereto the sprocket wheels 10 with which is associated an endless sprocket chain 11 whereby the shaft 9 is in driven connection with the shaft 5. Also fixed to each of the shafts 5 is a ratchet wheel 12-with which coacts a resilient dog or pawl 14. The dog or pawl la. and the associated ratchet wheel ,12 cooperate in a manner to permit free rotation,

in the periphery thereof result in the forum-- tion of a vacuum as said roller, upon rotation, engages the uppermost letter sheet or envelope of the pile X or Y, respectively, so that the feeding movement of a single sheet or envelope toward the desired delivery slot is materially facilitated. By having the members or side arms '7 pivotally engaged with a shaft 5, said members or arms, together with the parts carried thereby, may be swung readily and conveniently into an upward or inoperative posltion to facilitate the application of a pile of letter sheets or envelopes within the respective compartments'A and B.

To further assure the proper engagement of aroller R with its coacting 115 X or Y. each of the cross members 8 is provided with an upwardly disposed post li' with which is adapted to be engaged the weighted members 18 hereindisclosed as annular. If preferred, the post 17'may' have a laterally and substantiallyhorizontally disposed en tension 17 with which the weighted inem bers are directly engaged and the post 17 may be engaged with the cross member 6:1 by the thumb screw 19. By this means, the post 17, or more particularly its extension 17, may be swung to diiferent posilivery slot and to prevent said letter sheet or envelo 3e from passing above said slot and thereoy hindering or interfering with the desired delivery thereof.

The flap 21 in the compartment A dii'l'ers from the-flap in the compartment B to the extent that it is provided at its opposite side portions with the outwardly directed. flat fingers or extensions 22, said fingers or e.\' tensionsbeing adjusted on a desired curvature.

The rear wall 23 of the compartment A. and the rear wall of the compartmentB as afforded by the partition P eachhashingcdly engaged therewith, as at 2l,the upper marginal portion of a flap 25, preferably of metal, and which flap 25is adaptedto bear downupon the pile X or Y and'which contact of the flap 25 with a pile further assures the single delivery of a letter sheet or en velope. Either or'both of the flaps25 may be provided with an upstanding post 26 wit 1 which are enga ed the weighted members 27 also herein disclosed as annular. The weighted members 27 are employed to assure the desired action of a flap25 upon a pile.

' From the foregoing description it is tlmught-to be obvious that a dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance,with my invention is particularly well adapted 'for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which-it may be assen'ibled and operated, and it will also be obvious thatany invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and forthis reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise-arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. A dispensing apparatus of the class describedcomprising a container provided with a discharge slot and having a bottom leading to the lower marginal portion of said slot, a shaft disposed across said container, means exterior of the container for rotating the shaft, arms supporting within the cont'ainer forswinging movement in a verticalidirection. a roller supported between said arms and adapted to contact with the top of a pile within the container, a driving connection between the shaft and the roller, and a guide flap pivotally supported between said arms. and disposed in a direction away from the roller, said flap having free swinging movement.

2. A dispensing apparatus of the class described comprising a container provided with a discharge slotv and having a bottom leading to the] lower marginal portion of said slot, a shaft disposed across said container means exterior of the container for rotating the shaft arms supported within the container for swinging movement in a vertical direction. a roller supported between said arms and adapted to contact with the top of a pile within the container, a driving connection between the shaft and the roller, a guide flap pivotally supported between said arms and disposed in a direction away from the roller said flap having free swinging movement, the side portions of the guide flap being provided with outwardly directed flat extensions.

3. A dispensingapparatus of the class de scribed comprising a container provided with a discharge slot and having a bottom leading to the lower marginal portion of saidslot a shaft disposed across said container, means exterior of the container for rotating the shaft arms supported. within the container for swinging movement in a vertical direction a roller supported between said arms and adapted to contact with the top of a pile within the container, a driving connection between the shaft and the roller, a cross member connecting the arms inwardly of the roller, a guide flap pivotally connected to the cross member and disposed 1n a direction away trom the roller, said flap having free swinging, movement toward or from the bottom of the container.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my slgnature.

WILLIAM T. HUNTER. 

